Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1887-04-30
FIRST STEAMER cLARKsvILLE.
She Struck a Snag and Went Down With
200 tors Of Groceries and Of her
Crew-Cen. Jacksons' Last Trip to
New Orleans.
Old limos on tho Rivers.

plete history Of Clarksyile, from its
earliest settlement up TO date, OF several
hundred pages, giving full details Of
men and things; the ways and facilities
OF early settlers, progress OF the city and
surrounding country. Thrilling sketches
OF the grand old men who fought the
Indians and built up the commerce of
the country and the live men OF the
present age, finely illustrated with their
portraits, etc, OF which there will be
only 800 copies printed, which the first
orders will get Following is a thrill
ing sketch OF tho old steamer Clarks-
Vile:
II will DO observed by tho reader that the
beautiful steamer City OF GAINESVILLE, which
now 80 gracefully piles the Cumberland, is
not the first boat named In honor Of the city
OF Seven Hills. On the 9TH OF February, 1885,
" A Citizen addressed the following note TO
the CHRoNIoLE; MIR. MoGINTY-f wish 10
call the attention of the citizens OF our town
TO the compliment paid them by Capt. Irwin
and j. Anderson, Esq, In calling their SPLEEN
did new boat after our village. All who have
seen the GAINESVILLE concur In saying that as
to her design, model aud finish, she Is not
surpassed by any boat that floats on the
bosom OF the western waters. Then the COM
pliment is OF no ordinary character, and
deserves TO be acknowledged In q suitable
manner. | would therefore suggest that a
stand OF colors be purchased by our citizens,
and presented to Capt. Irwin as soon as they
can be procured, or should the boat be already
furnished with stand, that some other APP
propriate present be substituted" The editor
endorsing the suggestion, stated that the
GAINESVILLE was expected here about the 18th
inst, when the citizens would have an OPP
portunity Of manifesting their appreciation
of the compliment In whatever way they
deemed most tit. The CHRONICLE OF February
2lst $780, has this to say about the new boat
ave have at length had the pleasure OF a
peep at our long looked for namesahe. and
she Is indeed handsome boat-just such a
boat in point OF style and finish as we would
have named after our goodly town. The
GAINESVILLE Is fresh from the Wheeling dock,
, of the best material, and built mainly for the
Nashville and New Orleans trnde by Messrs
John b. Eastland, New Orleans. She com.
bines at once the principal requisites OF q
: good freghter and desirable passenger boat
She measures 800 feet, and carries burden Of
about $50 tons; 1872 feet on deck and 81 feet
beam, feet In hull, and runs light on 8 feet
8 inches water. Her workmanship through
out blends in striking degree the tasteful
, and substantial. The GAINESVILLE will viz
, with the proudest craft in our trade, while
her beautiful swan-like model propelled by
her new and powerful engine, moves up tho
I, the waters like thing OF life,' and defei
competition In speed. handsome new
: piano, purchased in Nashville, has been pre-
sented to Capt. Irwin by our citizens by way
= of reciprocal courtesy. The GAINESVILLE lef
: the wharf yesterday evening with larg,
: number OF passengers and heavily freightet
!, with tobacco and -four from this port" Tn,
boat at once took the lead, and had brillian
. but short and sad career. She made regula
F. trips, and was the favorite travelling boa
: with both Nashville and GAINESVILLE. Gen
. eral Jackson make his last visit TO New
= Orleans, the scene of his heroism, In January
: 1910, on the GAINESVILLE, and was welcomed
:, with the widest demonstrations Of enthusi
a asm by thousands OF people. Such demon
= stration had never been recorded. Peopl
: gathered at all landings along the route to d,
:, him honor. The steamer passed GAINESVILLE
q returning, on Friday evening, February 9th
1910, with the grand old soldier. During tn
;, stay OF the steamer at the GAINESVILLE wharf
!. citizens lined the shore to greet the hero o
: the Hermitage with shouts of Joy, welcoming
his return home. The Clarksville's caree
was suddenly ended in 1871. The Condos
. passing up on Tuesday, June 22d, brough
:, news OF the sinking of the GAINESVILLE, which
:, went down In very deep water, with 200 ton
of groceries and seven OF her crew. Sh
:, struck snag on her way up from New
! Orleans, six miles below Point Chicot, Ark
and sank Immediately, the cabin separating
;, from the hull and floating away. She wa
:, insured for $4,000, sufficient to cover her ful
:, value. The surviving passengers cordial.
: united in vindicating Capt. Irwin AID all O
the officers from the slightest blame.
Nothing more is known of the boat. Sur
vlving passengers stated that she had gon
down so deep that there was no hope OF rails
= ing her. However, one Of the most splendid
crafts in the trade between Nashville an'
= New Orleans In l847 was a steamer bcarin
:. the name OF Clarksville. She may have con
tained the machinery Of the old boat, blu
certainly in oil other respects was new boat
and II Ia believed she was entirely new ant
:. the second GAINESVILLE. The following an
:. nouncement is found in the CHRONICLE O
November 10th, lS48, and nothing more 1
known In regard to the boat: Irregular Ney
Orleans Packet Steamer GAINESVILLE, Jaco
Hunter, Master. This beautiful and fast run
ming steamer will be commanded this seasol
= by that able and skillful veteran In the ser
!, vice, Capt. Jacob Hunter, who has bee
engaged in the trade for number OF year
= The GAINESVILLE has recently been thoroughly
repaired, is now In excellent running condi
y ton, will leave for New Orleans on the frs
'' rise In the Cumberland, and continue :
:, make her regular trips during the season
:, Freight or passage at the lowest current rat
!" can be engaged on application to ths undeI
= signed. Beaumont, Payne & Co.. Agents"
. BY the way, there is pretty little romano
= neutrality-suspicious. GAINESVILLE, whic
~ is reserved for another place IN the bool
Capt. Joseph M. irwin was also the owner
- the second GAINESVILLE.
N Seventh Series-citizens' Building and Loa
Is Association.
IL.